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Which PlayStation Console Featured The Best Launch Lineup?

Launch lineups are always so important and yet, so many have been found wanting in the industry's history.

On the PlayStation side, which hardware iteration hit the market with the best array of launch titles? And do you think the PS4 will be able to compete in that category? If you include those massive third-party titles, maybe it's the winner...

The original PlayStation console came out with a few big highlights, including Ridge Racer, Battle Arena Toshinden, Rayman and the underrated Jumping Flash!. I still remember playing Ridge Racer for hours on end, and wondering if it was possible for video games to get any better. You think that's funny? A lot of people my age asked the same question when the NES arrived; we had only been exposed to Atari, Intellivision, Colecovision, etc. at that time.

The PS2 launched with more than double the number of games as compared to the PS1's launch lineup. This included Madden NFL 2001, SSX, DoA2: Hardcore, Smuggler's Run, TimeSplitters, Unreal Tournament, Tekken Tag Tournament, Ridge Racer V, Armored Core 2, Summoner, Eternal Ring and Midnight Club. Personally, I thought it was an amazing selection; you could play just the launch titles for months and feel totally satisfied. And I was satisfied for a long time.

Then came the PS3, with barely half the titles the PS2 launched with. The highlight was obviously the excellent Resistance: Fall of Man, but a few other games were pretty decent; NBA 2K7, Ridge Racer 7, and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, for instance. The rest was really quite mediocre, unfortunately. Still, Resistance was so freakin' awesome in my mind that it almost made up for the rest of the lineup's lacking. When comparing it to the PS2, though, it definitely looks a little paltry.

The PS4 is an interesting case. It will have Killzone: Shadow Fall and Knack (those two alone might put it ahead of the PS3 in my eyes), but it will also benefit from giant third-party games like Call of Duty: Ghosts, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and Battlefield 4. Plus, there's Madden, FIFA, NBA 2K and a strong assortment of downloadable-only titles. Driveclub might've helped a little; Watch Dogs could've helped a lot.

New Comment System

Legacy Comment System (18 posts)

I agree about the PS2. And for more than just the games. PS2 meant a quantum leap in the quality of 3D gaming entertainment. The PSX was this pseudo 3D era, where 2D was merging with 3D and many games were still designed with 2D interaction with 3D polyognated characters. Few games represented a quality full fledged attempt into the 3D realm. People may remember the PSX controller didn't even come with analogue sticks for a few years.

As for PS2, being a fighting fan I was very happy with DOA2 HC and TTT, the two games I took home with my PS2. But shortly after I snagged SSX after reading the rave reviews. It was an out of nowhere hit. I enjoyed it a lot too. I eventually got RR5 and Madden. And Madden was another quantum change from PSX to PS2.

THe PS3 had Resistance, which was important because the PS2 was still waiting for it's first great FPS. Multiplatform gamers like myself had already played through games like Halo and Halo 2, Half Life 2, Far Cry PC, Call of Duty 2, and FEAR before Resistance released. So that franchise's excitement very much felt contained within a PS-only vacuum.

Anyway, I also think the Vita is worth mentioning. Games like Uncharted and Rayman Origins, including also a strong lineup of supporting titles may make it one of the best as well.

As for PS4. I see a lot of franchises that have run their course for what has seemingly defined much of the popularity of this last gen. That is, shooters and assassins creed games. That's exactly what we we're getting much more of for the start of the next-gen. Where new this time feels like more pixels and higher frame rates.Last edited by Temjin001 on 10/21/2013 10:44:47 PM

I also remember being impressed by RR. The game had this cool trick. Once it loaded the game, yah, the whole track =p , you could pop the disc out and place one of your own music CD's in. I rocked out to Megadeth's So Far So Good So What many a' time to Ridge Racer hehe.The only downside to this is the game would only start songs from where they were located on the game disc.

Launch is when i pickup a playstation console.That alone is reason enough cause i'm buying new amazing hardware.If you see launch games for PS1,PS2 and PS3 didn't have any games i was hyped about at launch.But for Playstation 4 I'm interested in Killzone 4 and Knack.

But most exciting Playstation Launch game lineup in 20 years is the Japanese Playstation 4 Launch with Yakuza Ishin , Infamous Second Son and Deep Down.No other Launch is as amazing as this.Last edited by Kiryu on 10/21/2013 11:30:39 PM

I think all their launch lineups were pretty shitty, actually. Every single one of them had not much to offer in year 1. I remember PS2's launch being something of a drought. Memories are funny things though. I could be wrong.

The Armored core series got me hooked ever since it came out on the ps1. One of the best mech-warrior games back then. Haven't played Armored core 4+ but i remember when i used to try and get everything.

i gotta go with the ps1, it may not of had as many games as the ps2 but they were better polished and did not feel rushed out of the gate.wish we could go back to the good old ps1 days, i remember watching good game last week and the guess the game for this week was tenchu, made me rush to my draw and pull out my ps1 disc and hitch up to the nostalgia train.shame shinbodo 2 ended up a train wreck, it really could of revived the genre and a perfect fit for the vita.

ps2's looks pritty gud to me um the ps1 and ps3's weren't quite so stellar and the ps4 one is better than the ps3's i think just personal taste resistance never really did it for me sry.but yeah ps2 still takes the cake here(the ps2's awsomeness continues watta surprise again)

Oh the PS2 without a doubt, Tekken Tag took everything perfect about Tekken 3 and polished it off with top end Playstation 2 graphics. I dind't know DoA2 was a launch title, another solid fighter. I never played Ridge Racer V, but I regard Ridge Racer Type 4 to be one of the greatest racers of all time. The handling is just so smooth, I love to sit down with a new record and drive to it.

This probably sounds ridiculous, but some of my fondest gaming memories were after the PS2 launch playing Smugglers Run with my friends! With that said the PS4's launch lineup looks fantastic, but mainly due to the quality third party software.

PS4 already in my opinion just because of the launch window of games. Oddworld, inFamous Second Son, Mercenary Kings, Minecraft, Resogun, The Witness, and all of the other games coming.

Already I have 10+ free games I'll play on launch. "Yeah, but they're all indie crap. LAWL!!!" Beats the hell out of generic monochromatic military shooter #204358.Last edited by DrRockso87 on 10/23/2013 8:51:09 PM

Out of all the PlayStation consoles, I'd have to vote for the PS2 as having the best lineup. That is, for a home console.

All in all, I believe the Vita had the strongest launch out of all PS consoles to date. From Wipeout 2048 to Uncharted: Golden Abyss. Not to mention the epicness that is Rayman Origins, which I'm currently enjoying again thanks to Plus.

I honestly believe the PS4 has a very weak launch lineup. Knack doesn't interest me, nor does Infamous. Drive Club was my main game, but then that got delayed. Personally, for the first time ever, the Xbox side of the industry looks more enjoyable than the PS side, at least at / around launch. Ryse looks amazing, but most of all, I really, REALLY want to try Sunset Overdrive by Insomniac Games. Reminds me of Jet Set Radio, Borderlands and Team Fortress 2.Still, I buy consoles for future games, which is why I preordered the PS4, not the One. I trust Sony more than Microsoft right now, at least in regards to first party titles.